Francis b



STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANCIS B. STEVENS AND JAMES BORTHWICK, OF HOBOKEN, NEW JERSEY.

GRATEl-BA R.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 236,965, dated January 25, 1881.

Application filed December 11, 1880. (No model.)

To all whom fit may concern:

Be it known th at we, `FRANCIS B. STEVENS and JAMEs BoErHwrcK, lcitizens of the United States, residing vat Hoboken, in the county of Hudson and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rocking Grate-Bars for Furnaces; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters or ligures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to improvements in rocking grate-barsfor furnaces, and has for its object the ready removal and replacement of individual bars or sections of grate-bars when so desired, particularly when the grate-surface is sodeep as to render a single bar inoperative and inapplicable on account of its length.

The invention consists in certain improvements on Letters Patent numbered 221,430, granted to Francis B. Stevens, and dated November 11, 187 9-viz., in providing each gratebar with a ldownward-projecting arm s'o arranged that when the ends of two bars abut on the same vertical and horizontal planes the said downward-projecting arms will interlock and clutch each other in such manner that when the front bar is rocked it will impart its rocking motion to its next abutting rear bar in the same plane, as will hereinafter more fully appear.

Referrmg more particularly to thevdrawings, Figure 1 represents a plan and side elevation in perspective, clearly showing two sets of bars end to end and resting on their bearers. Fig. 2 shows the ends of two bars ready to be united by 'means of their downwardly-projecting arms. Fig. 3 illustrates an end elevation of the bars in position, the center bar beingin the act of being rocked, the operation of which is fully set forth in the Letters Patent before referred to.

It will be observed'that long grate-bars frequently warp Vand twist with the heat, so that they become unserviceable, and particularly when the bar is a movable one.,` It is also well known that when sections of bars are placed end to end in a long furnace the rear bars are difficult to clean, it being almost impossible for the fireman to slice and rake the fuel without being seriously affected by the heat. This being the case, the cinder and ashes are rarely disturbed while the fires are incandescent, and the interstices between the bars become choked up, and the air is thus prevented from passing through them, so that they become overheated and burned.

It may be further remarked that when the required quantity of air is prevented from reaching the combustible gases by the choking up and clogging of the grates the said gases pass o unconsumed, and are thereby wasted.

Now, to remedy these and other evils is the object of our invention, as Well as to have at all times a bright and clear fire when required, and to preserve the said rear grate-bars from warping and twisting and burning out, as they would otherwise do when they are not kept perfectly clear of cinder and ashes.

In the drawings the same letters indicate corresponding parts in all the gures.

A are rocking grate-bars, placed in the rear end of the furnace and abutting end to end against the corresponding bars A. All these bars are provided with rockingjournals, as described in the Letters Patent referred to, and as these journals form no part of this invention they will not be further alluded to.

B are the bearer-bars, grooved with socket journal-bearin gs.

C are the downwardly-projectin g arms or cranks.

D is the crank-pin, placed on the arm of the bar A, and fitting into .the recess or slot E in the corresponding end 0f the next abutting bar, A.

In the drawings two sets of bars only are shown placed end to end but it is obvious that three or more sets could be thus placed.

It is evident that round pins and recesses would operate; but we prefer to have them angular, for the reason that the gripe or clutch is more solid.

The operation of these rocking bars is very simple, and may be stated as follows: The grate-bars being provided with the downwardly-projectin g arms or cranks, and they, in turn, being provided with the crank-pins and corresponding recesses or slots, and their proper bearing-bars being in position, the bar A, having the'crank-pin, is now set in place. Then IOO the bar A, provided with the recesses or slots, is slipped down in place at the end of the first bar, its slot E tittingdown on the pin D,clutch ing it and forming a solid bar, as far as the rocking motion is concerned, and this operation is gone through with until each bar is in place. Now a rocking motion is given to either of the bars, (for when they are fastened either will rock the other,) which in turn, and at the same time, imparts the same motion to its abutting mate in rear or front, as the ease may be, and so on alternately or together, as may be preferred. 0f course, when all the bars are to be rocked together at the same time, proper connection, connecting each to the other, will have to be made. This is obvious, and we do not therefore show it in the drawings.

We are aware that rocking grates have been variously connected, and that the grate-surface has been formed by sections of grates abutting against each other; but we are not aware that any have been connected like ours, and do not therefore claim such; but,

Having now described our invention, its con l struction, and operation, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination of two or more rocking grate-bars, placed end to end, and provided with downwardly-projecting arms having lugs D and corresponding recesses or notches E, by which they are connected endwise and adapted to receive the same rocking` motion, all constructed and arranged substantial] y as shown, and for the purpose described herein.

2. The combination of the rocking grate bars, arranged end to end, and provided with down wardly-projecting arms C, having lugs D and notches E, as shown, with the front, rear, and intervening grooved bars, all constructed and arranged substantially as shown, and for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof we aiix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

FRANCIS B. STEVENS. JAMES BORTHWICK. Witnesses JN0. A. LANDREGAN, AGNES A. BROWN. 

